Safety clamp



A118 29, 1933. l H. c. JoHANsEN 1,924,436

SAFETY CLAMP Filedsept. 18. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l Aug' 29, 1933. H. c. JoHANsl-:N 1,924,436y

SAFETY CLAMP Filed Septf. 18, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @4A-Wm.

Patented Aug. 29, 1933 to Sullivan Machinery Company, acorporationy y of `Massachusetts `16 claims. (c1.21a-26.2.5)

This'invention relates to safety clamps,'an'd more particularly tonew and useful improvements in safety clampsespecially ,adapted'lto use with drill pipes of a drilling apparatus. y

An object of this invention istoV provide an improved safety clamp. .AnotherQobject is to holding the drill provide an improved safety clamp having irnproved means for attaching the Vclamp to the drill pipe and for operating the`pipe grippingV devices;Y These andother objects will,'however, hereinafter morefully appear. l

In the accompanying drawings there is shown .invention mayfassumein practice.,

for purposes of illustrationone form whichV the Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the illustrative embodiment of the improved safety clamp. Y

in Fig. 1. g.

Fig. 3 is'atransverseverticalsectional 'view taken substantially on linew3-v-3 of, FigQl.i Fig. 4 isa transversezvertical sectional taken substantially on line ,4-4f'of Fig-f2.

Inthis illustrative embodiment of thev inven tion, the improved safetyclamp` `is "shown as comprising a casing 'or body 1` of'generally U- shape having a lateral` opening 2 whereby the' clamp maybe slid directly onto a vdrill pipe,

-the latter being indicated. at 3. FPivotany mountedat 4 at 'one side of this lateral opening isla closure member or gate 5 which, whenjin the 'full line position shown in Fig.2,fcloses the open side of the casing. Pivotally mountedgat 6 adjacenttheopposite side of the lateral opening 2 is an eye-bolt 7 which, when swl'ingfinvv wardly into engagement with a slot 8fformed on the gate,` and 'tightened by' a nut'9, maintains the gate inA its closed'position. This hold-` ing bolt may be quickly released simply by looseningthe nut 9 and swung laterally tothe `dotted line position indicated in Fig. "2,.therfeby'` to permit swinging ofthe gate nutwardly into its open position. K f

In the present construction, vtheclampbody 1 is provided with a central chamber lo'having inclined side Walls converging inwardly Vtoward the bottomv of the body; and mountedl in this chamber are Wedge-shaped pipegripping `jaws vor" slips 11 these jaws are,herein'fourin` number and have inclined outer surfaces engaging the view `engage and gripY thev drill pipe.A These' jaws arefarranged in pairsvand Vare looselyV heldtogether by bolts .13,` asfshownin Figs. 2 Iand 4; and the means for moving these ,jaws into `their provide an improved safetyl clamp especially adapted to use with 'a drilling apparatusfor, pipe at certain' times during.` 10 the drilling operation. A further object is to operative grippingA and released positions comprises levers 14, 14 pivotallymconnected'at their inner` ends to the. bolts 13,113; respectively, and

mounted for swinging'movement on'pivot pins 1 15, A15 Vsuitably,carried by rbrackets 16, herein gear segments 18,18; the teeth? ofl which mesh with :segments 19,l 19.'v 'These' gear. segments v`19' i arefor'med on levers 20,20 suitablynxedtoa .transverse treadle shaft 21 suitably journaled within bearingfbrackets ('22` 22 herein formed integralwith` the vclamp body. Suitablymfxed tfthe opposite ends'of this treadle shaft iatthe; p

opposite ."sides of 1 the clamp body are foot Y treadles ,23, 23 eachhaving oppositely extend- Fig.v 2 is a top plan viewjofthe clamp shown ing operatingpo'rtions. -From the foregoing, Vvit will be Yevident that Whenthe operator places his foot on one or the 'other of the ltreadles 23 Y the treadle shaft `21 isrotatedfandrotationof vthis l shaftjis transmitted 'through the, gear segy ments V18, 19. andthe jaw leversf14 ,14fto'move the clamp jaws'll into Vtheir pipe gripping or j i released positions as desired; As shownin Figs.

2A andf'g'theends, 24,` 24 `oi the U portions ofthe clamp bodyrare connected together and braced by atransversebracing bolt 25;V e y In the usejof the improved safety clamp,

"whenfit' is desired to placerthe safetyfclamp Vin position around the drill pipe 2,`v vthe bracing bolt `25,*,is removed and the gate' '5' is swung outwardlyp into itsopen position; TheV clampbody is thenslid in position 'on 'the drill pipe. 3 and isisuitably bolted or 'otherwise secured( to `,the

derrickfloor] `or` fother suitable support. The

Lgate Y5 i's'then swung inx'vardly-mlinto its;v losed position and so held by the holding bolt'l'lv'. [The `braci'ngbolt is then'replaced; When theclamp jaws "11 arepfin'their raised or inoperative position, asiridicated.in'dottedlines in Fig. 4, and Y itis desired to'mo've 'the same into their pipe f 'gripping "positiom the "operator presses Vclown- Wardly on one'operat'ing portion ofoneof the Y l foottread1es'23, thereby swinging thejawlevers "14,"14"'downwa'rdly to the full-line position in lig` 4; the jaws 11 then gripping the drill pipe y'v/ithya Wedging action due/to theinclined sur'- faces on the jaws 'and the clamp body, andas aQresultf-the'drill pipe isheldagainst'dropping .110

6 I tions including actuatingY elements connectedto said jaws, a shaft journaled'on said body, levers into their gripping or released positions.

yao

YLetters. vl-"atent ist tothe drill pipe. ,dentv that' the improved .safety clamp `is of an other uses and advantages "of theimproved'safey 1,924 into the' drin hoie. when i1; isdesired to hoist the drillpipe upwardly, the clamp jaws 11 may Ybe quickly released by simply pressing downwardly upon the other operating portion of one of the foot treadles. Although the chamber l0 in thejiclairm, body is .circular inj-shape, it. will y be evident thatif Ydesired the clamp `bodymay be provided with a rectangular chamber, and that the` clamp jaws maybe correspondingly formed rectangular in shape instead of inf-the arcuate shape shown.

As a result of this invention it will be noted' that an improved safetyclam'p gisfprovided .haal-'y ing improved operating means Vfortl'ie clamp jawswhereby the latter may be quickly moved rIt will further be noted that by'tlie-provisionof :the U-shaped clamp body and the pivoted gate member, it is possible to quickly attach the clamp It will still further bereviextremely simple larly "adapted to., serviceencountered inxdrilling work.

and rugged structure particumeet the' severe demands of These andA ty clamp `will lbe clearly apparent to those vskilled inthe art. y

While in;this applicationthere is shown Yone formwhich the. invention may assume in practice, t will be understood that this form is shown 1 p, for purposesV of illustrationy only, and thatrthe'Y invention may be modified and embodied invarious otherfformsf without departing `from its spirit or the` scope of thepappended claims.

What I claim is new and desire to secure by 1. AIn aV safety clamp, a clamp body, clamp jaws mounted in said body', and means for moving said clamp jaws into their gripping Vor released' Apositions including pivoted levers connected to said "jaws, an operating shaft journaled. on said fixed to said shaft adjacent the opposite Aends thereof vat opposite sides`v of said body,y gear segments on the hubs of said frr'st mentioned -leversintermeshing with ,gear segmentson theextremities of said second' mentioned levers, and vmeans for rotating'said shaft.-

2. Ina safety clamp, a Vclamp body, clampV jaws mounted in said body, bolts rconnecting said-jaws together in pairs, and means for moving said jaws into theirY gripping or'released position inbody, levers cluding pivoted levers pivotally connectedK to said bolts respectively, anoperating shaft'Y joury for rotating said shaft.

naled on said body, connections between said operating shaft and said jaw levers, and means l 3. In a safety clamp, a clamp body, clamp jaws `mounted in said body, and means,v for moving said .jaws into their gripping and releasedy posi- Y fixed.V to said Ashaftadjacent the opposite ends thereof 'at opposite sides of said body, gear siegments on said actuating elements intermeshing.

with. gear segmentsfon the extremities of saidA levers for connecting the ,opposite ends lofsaid, shaft to said actuating elements. respectively,

. and means for rotating said shaft.

king said jaws into their operative grippingnand y released positions, including an operating shaft .released `positions including gan operating Vshaft connected to said jaws respectively.

`erative to retain said jaws in position within said body, and means for moving said jaws into :their operative gripping and released positions,

ysaid jaw moving means including an operating. shaftjournaled on said body and means in- Vn'luding intermeshng gear-elements connecting said shaft tosaid clampingv jaws.

p 6. In'a safety clamp, a clamp bodyof gener- V90 `ally U-s-hape having an open side, ak pivoted gate for closing the open side of said body, clamp jaws mounted in said body, andmeans formoving said jaws into their operative gripping and '95 journaledon said body and connections between said operating shaft and said jaws, said-connections including'intermeshing gear elements arranged at vthe `opposite sidesV of said body and..100

'7. In a safety clamp, a clamp body of generally Vlli-shape having an open side, a pivoted gate for closingthe open side of ,said body, clamp jaws' mounted in'said body, 'and-meansn for moving said jaws into their operative gripping and released positions including'a treadle shaft journaled on saidr body, pivoted levers connected: to said clamp jaws, and connections Vbetween said treadle shaft and said levers.

8. In a safety clamp, a clamp body 0f gener- E110 'ally .U-shape having an open side, a pivoted gate for closing theY open Yside of said body.. clamp jjaws mounted vin said body, and means for moving said jaws into their operativegripping. andf! releasedv positions including 4a treadle shaft jour-M115 naled on said body, pivoted levers connectedto said jaws',.andintermeshing gear elements .connecting said treadle shaft to said levers.

A9. In a safety clamp, a clamp body, clamp jaws-i2() mounted 1in'- said body, andY means formoving said jaws into their operative gripping and released positions including pivoted levers pivotal- 1y connected to said jaws, a treadlev shaft journaled on said body, andintermeshing vgear ele-.fi25 ments connecting said treadle shaft to said jaw levers.

v10'.-Infa safety clamp, afclampv body, clamp jaws mounted insaid body, elements connecting ,said jawstogether in pairs, and means for mov-k ing said jaws into ltheir released position in- 'cluding pivoted levers pivotally connected to said connecting elements respectively, an operating shaft" journaled on said body,. Connections between said operatingl shaft and said jaw; levers, and'means for' rotating said shaft.

11. Ina safetyV clamp, a clamp-body Iof generally. U-'shapel having an open sidea pivoted gate for closing the open side of said body, clampfjaws. mounted in said body, and means-` for moving said jawsinto their,y operative gripping and yreleased positions including an operating shaft journaled onl said body, pivoted levers connected to said clamp jaws, and connections between said operatingjshaft andsaid' levers.: l

12. In a safety clamp, a clamp body of generally U-shapehaving an open side, a pivoted gate.

ing said jaws intotheir operative gripping., and released positions including an operating shaft journaled on said body, pivoted levers connected to said jaws, and intermeshing gear elements Yconnecting said operating shaft to said levers.

13. In a safety clamp, a clamp body, clamp jaws mounted in said bodyandmeans for rev leasing all of said jawsv including levers each connected to a pair of said jaws, parallel 'shafts journaled on the opposite sides of said-body and connected to said levers, respectively, and means for rotating said shafts to swing said levers including a transverse operating shaft journaled on said body at right angles tov the axes of said parallel shafts and operatively connected to the ,latter and an operating element attached toV said transverse shaft. i

14. In a safety clamp, a clamp body, clamp jaws mounted in said body, and means for" releasing all of said jaws including levers Veach connected to a pair of said jaws, parallel' shafts journaled on the opposite sides of said body and connected to said levers respectively, and means for rotating 'said shafts to swing said levers including a transverse operating shaft journaled on said body at right angles to the axes of said parallel shafts, connections between the opposite ends of said transverse shaft and said paral-` lel shafts respectively and an operating element attached to said transverse shaft.

15. In a safety clamp, a clamp body, clamp fcc vin planes at right angles ,to` said jaws` mounted in said body, and meansfor releasing said jaws including levers connected to said jaws, parallel shafts `journaled on the op.V

posite sides of saidbody and connected to said leversrespectively, and means for rotating said l shafts to swing said levers including a transverse operating shaft journaled on said body at right thereof, and gear elements fixed to said parallel shafts and meshing with said i. gear elements respectively.V y 1 16. In a 'safety clamp, a` clamp body having an open side, aV pivoted gate for closing the open side of said body, clamp jaws mounted in said body, and means for moving said jaws into their Y voperative gripping'and lreleased positions including anoperatingshaft journaled on said body atV the side thereof oppositefrom said gate, levers pivotally vconnected to said jaws and swingable Y in planes parallel with 'said shaft, and means for connecting said shaft to said levers includl ing actuating elements secured tosaid shaftV adjacent theopposite ends thereof and .movable operatively connected to ysaid levers.

HARRYV C. JoHANsN.

planes and Y 

